Code signal programmer



Jan. 17, 1961 G, E, SCHWENDER EVAL 2,968,694

CODE: SIGNAL PROGRAMMER Filed June 25, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 WONU NMI

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CODE SIGNAL PROGRAMMER Filed June 25, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYCODE SIGNAL PROGRAMMER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 25, 1957 NT N v Y 9GE P mm Nm. EE Ww xm 6. A GR 0% m A m W mb Jan- 17, 1961 G. E. scHwENDERErAL 2,968,694

CODE SIGNAL PROGRAMMER Filed June 25, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 KEY 2NDCHAR. 5

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` G. E. 5mn/ENDE@ Nm/2O R. ,4. VANDERL/PPE Jan. 17, 1961 G; E. scHwENDERETAL 2,968,694

CODE SIGNAL PROGRAMMER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 25, 1957 Gu gambe?)a. E. scHwE/VDER WVU/TUA@ ,La ,4. vA/voERL/PPE ATTO N55/ United StatesPatent() CODE SIGNAL PROGRAMMER George E. Schwender, Huntington, andRichard A. Vanderlippe, Bloomfield, NJ., assignors to Bell TelephoneLaboratories, Incorporated, New York, N Y., a corporation of New YorkFiled June 25, 1957, Ser. No. 667,871 8 Claims. (Cl. 178-S3.1)

This invention relates to code signal programming arrangements and moreparticularly to circuitry for the generation of repetitive sequences ofpermutation code signal combinations.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a circuit arrangementfor applying repetitive sequences of permutation code signalcombinations delining teletypewriter characters to a distributor foruse, for instance, in the maintenance and testing of telegraphtransmission systems.

Another object of this invention is to provide programming circuitry forrapidly intermixing predetermined sequences of related and unrelateddigital code signal intelligence.

One further object of this invention is to provide circuitry for thegeneration of signal intelligence which is capable of making rapidchanges in the nature, format, and quantity of intelligence generated.

One feature of this invention is the interconnection of a multiplicityof counting rings in cascade, in a manner which provides a total countless than the product of the number of stages in the individual countingrings for use, for instance, when the generation of a smaller number ofcombinations than Athe maximum possible is desirable.

Another feature of this invention is counting ring switching means forintermixing digital code sequences at Specific points in the countingcycle.

An additional feature of this invention is common pulse recycling meansfor effecting the recycling of one counting ring while simultaneouslyregistering a single count on a second ring utilizing a commonactivating pulse to accomplish both operations.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the principal componentsthereof, comprising a six-step relay counting chain, a fourteen-steprelay counting chain, and a bank of multiple coded relays, are arrangedto apply a predetermined sequence of teletypewriter characters in fiveelement digital code to a start-stop teletypewriter distributor. Duringeach transmitting cycle of the teletypewriter distributor, a steppingpulse is applied to the counting rings in a particularly timed relationto assure that the previous coding is properly registered on thedistributor and Will not be interfered with by the succeedingregistration resulting from a new pulse applied to the countingcircuitry.

A first relay counting ring of six steps is interconnected with a secondrelay counting ring of fourteen steps and the operating contactsassociated with these counting relays control the operation of therelays in the multiple coding bank so that with each count of thefourteen-step relay chain a new coding relay in the multiple codingrelay bank is selected and with each step of the six-step counting relaychain a character permutatively established on the output leads from themultiple coding relay bank by the selected coding relay is applied tothe distributor.

When the circuit is energized, the teletypewriter distributor begins tooperate and battery is applied to the counting and coding relays. Duringeach cycle of the teletypewriter distributor, a pulse is applied to thecounting rings. The counting rings are composed of identicalsingle-count circuits, each requiring one relay per count. Normally onlyone relay in each ring is operated except during an initial starting ofthe counting cycle and during transfer of the counting process from onestage to the next. In order to permit recycling of the counting rings,the first stages thereof differ slightly from the other stages. Inaddition, the path for the pulse which steps the relays of thefourteen-step ring is bridged to the operating path of the first relayof the six-step ring, thereby to effect a single stepping of thefourteen-step ring for each cycle of the six-step ring. Consequently,when a cycle of the fourteen-step ring is completed the six-step ringwill have cycled fourteen times, therefore, a total of eightyfour livedigit teletypewriter characters will have been applied to thedistributor.

Additional circuitry is also provided to enable the bypassing of certainof the steps in the six-step cycle chain at particular steps of thefourteenstep chain. When this by-pass circuitry is utilized, thecombinational count of the two relay chains, or the number ofteletypewriter characters established on the distributor input leads, isless than the numerical product of the stepping relays in the two rings.

Normally the multiple coding relays are selected sequentially by thefourteen-step relay chain and the connection of the coded teletypewritercharacters thus selected to the teletypewriter distributor is controlledby the successive operation of the relays of the six-step chain. In thismanner a combination of signals representing a teletypewriter testmessage pattern may be repetitively applied to the teletypewriterdistributor until the circuit is deenergized.

The operation of a relay in the multiple coding bank applies apredetermined pattern of grounds to a 30-Wire multiple circuitarrangement which is divided into six groups of five leads, each forconnection to groups of make contacts associated with each of the:relays of the six-step chain. An optional coding arrangement is alsoprovided in this invention. To select the optional arrangement, a key isdepressed which effects deenergization of the multiple relay coding bankand switches control of the pattern of grounds applied by the contactsof the relays of the six-step chain on the distributor to two five-keyswitch sets. Thus, two five-digit code characters may be established bymanual setting of the switches and repetitively applied to thedistributo-r by the contacts of the cycling six-step counting chain. Itis also possible by using the programming circuitry mentionedherenbefore :to intermix the sending of two-character and sentencesignal sequences during particular cycles of the six-step countingchain, and to reduce the number of characters sent in a completesequence to a total which is compatible with page-type teletypewriters.

Although the application of this invention will be described withrelation to a teletypewriter segmental distributor, it is to beunderstood that the digital code generating and programming features ofthis invention may be applied to any type of distributor, dataprocessing or other utilization circuitry requiring a digital codeinput.

The invention will be more clearly understood from a consideration ofthe following description, to be read in connection with the drawings inwhich: Figs. l through 4 when arranged as shown in Fig. 5 show, indetached contact schematic representation, the interrelation of countingrings A and B with the multiple relay coding bank C, and the controlcircuits for applying a predetermined sequence of teletypewritercharacters in tive element digital codes to a start-stop teletypewritersegmental distributor; and Fig. 6 shows, in block form, the manner inwhich the apparatus and circuits cooperate.

In the drawings the relay contacts are shown detached from the relaywindings. The relay windings 'are given letter designations and theassociated contacts are also identified by the same letter designations.Contacts which are closed when the relay is deenergized, known as breakcontacts, are represented by a single short line perpendicular to thelines representing the connecting conductors, while contacts which areclosed when the relay is operated, known as make contacts, arerepresented by a cross or X crossing the connecting conductors. A makeand a break contact, associated with the same relay, connected togetherand in close proximity represent a continuity or make before break setof contacts. Similarly, contacts of keys, etc., which are normallyclosed are represented by a line perpendicular to the conductor line andnormally open contacts closed by the operation of the key, etc., arerepresented by va cross intersecting the conductor line.

Referring now to Fig. 6, a code distributor generally indicated by block601 is shown. Distributor 601, which is well known in the art, functionsto transmit teletypewriter characters to an output circuit in accordancewith signals coded on the distributor by distributor leads P1-5. Thesignal output of distributor 601 may be utilized, for example, for thetesting of telegraph receiving devices.

Distributor leads P1-5 comprise a set of five leads which are extendibleby way of sequence circuit 607 to corresponding sets of leads in wiremultiple W1 to W30. Wire multiple W1 to W30 comprises six sets of tiveleads identified in Fig. 6 as leads W1-5, W6-10, W11-15, W16-20, W2125and W26-30. The manner in which distributor leads Pl-S are extended toeach set of five leads in multiple Wfl-30 and the manner in whichmultiple leads W1-30 are coded with signals are described hereinafter.

When distributor 601 concludes the transmission of a teletypewritercharacter, the auxiliary contact, not shown, of the distributor appliesa pulse to A counter 602. Counter 602 comprises a six-stage relaycounting ring. The operation of each relay in counter 602 functions toextend the distributor pulsing lead to the next successive relay stage,as shown in Fig. 6, whereby counter 602 continuously steps in responseto the distributor pulses. It is noted that when the third stage ofcounter 602 is operated, the distributor pulsing lead is extended to thefourth stage by way of switch 603. The operation of switch 603 will bedescribed hereinafter. It is also noted that when the sixth stage ofcounter 602 is operated, the distributor pulsing lead is extended to Bcounter 604 in addition to the rst stage of counter 602.

Counter 604 comprises a l4-stage relay ring counter wherein each stageis successively operated in substantially the same manner as counter602. Since the distributor pulsing lead is extended to counter 604 onlywhen the sixth stage of counter 602 is operated, counter 604 is steppedonce for each complete cycle of counter 602. Accordingly, counter 602will cycle 14 times for each cycle of counter 604 whereby 84 steps orcounts are obtained.

Associated with eac-h stage of counter 604 is a relay of coding relaybank 606. The operation of each stage of counter 604 operates theassociated relay of bank 606 by way of normally enabled gate 605. Eachrelay of bank 606, when operated, functions to code the thirty leads ofmultiple W1-30 with predetermined character signal elements.

Returning now to counter 602, the operation of the relays in the counterinstructs sequence circuit 607 to sequentially extend each set of fiveleads in multiple W1-30 to distributor leads Pl-S. Accordingly, duringthe first cycle of counter 602, wherein the first stage of counter 604is operated, leads Wit-30 are coded by the first relay in bank 606 Aanda sequential one of the above-described sets of leads in multiple W1-30is extended to distributor leads P1-5 for each pulsing of counter 602.Similarly, during each succeeding cycle of counter 602, a subsequentrelay in bank 606 codes leads W1-30 and the above-described sets ofleads are sequentially applied to distributor leads P1-5. Thus, for acomplete cycle of counter 604, a test message of 84 predeterminedcharacters is transmitted by distributor 601.

When the device to be tested is a teletypewriter page printer, i-t maybe desirable to send only two test characters. Furthermore, since a pageline can accommodate 72 characters in certain well-known page printers,it is desirable to limit the test message to 72 characters.

Key coder 609 comprises an arrangement which includes character keys forconditioning a first three sets of leads in multiple W1-30 with a firstcharacter and a second three sets of leads with a second character. Toactivate or operate key coder 609, by-pass program circuit 608 isprovided.

By-pass program circuit 608 includes a program key, not shown in Fig. 6but shown and identified relative to the detailed description of thecircuit in Fig. 3 as key 3-CIP. Assuming key 3-CIP is operated, by-passprogram circuit 608 is prepared for subsequent activation. During thefirst cycle of counter 602, t-he first tive characters are transmittedby distributor 601 in the same manner as previously described. At theconclusion of the transmission of the tifth character, the sixth stageof counter 602 is operated as previously described. The operation of thesixth stage applies a signal to gate 611 and with the fourteenth stageof counter 604 unoperated, the signal is gated by way of gate 611 -tothe by-pass program circuit 608 thereby activating circuit 608. Theactivation of circuit 608 permits key coder 609 to code multiple W1-30.Circuit 608 also disables gate 605 whereby coding relay bank 606 isprecluded from coding multiple W1-30. In addition, program circuit 608,when activated, prepares by-pass switch 603 for subsequent operation.

With gate 605 disabled and key coder 609 operated, the sixth charactercoded on leads Pl-S, and thus on distributor 601, is the character codedon the set of leads associated with stage 6 of counter 602 by key coder609. Similarly, the characters coded on distributor 601 during thesecond through eleventh cycle cf counter 602 are determined by key coder609.

When the twelfth cycle of counter 602 is initiated, the twelfth stage ofcounter 604 operates, thereby opera-ting by-pass switch 603 which waspreviously conditioned by program circuit 608. The operation of switch603 functions to transfer the distributor pulsing lead path extended bythe operation of the third stage from the fourth stage of counter 602 tothe sixth stage. Accordingly, during the twelfth cycle of counter 602,the rst three stages successively operate followed by the operation oft-he sixth stage whereby the fourth and tifth stages are by-passed.Similarly, during the thirteenth cycle of counter 602, the operatedthirteenth stage of counter 604 operates switch 603 to by-pass stages 4and 5 of counter 602. Accordingly, four characters lare by-passed 0reliminated during the twelfth and thirteenth cycles of counter 602.

During the fourteenth cycle of counter 602, the fourteenth stage ofcounter 604 operates whereby, when the fourth stage of counter 602operates, a signal is gated by way of gate 611v to the by-pass programcircuit 603, deactivating circuit 608. Since this occurs at theconclusion of the third character in the fourteenth cycle, the nextsuccessive three characters will be determined by the fourteenth reiayin bank 606.

It is thus seen that key coder 609 and by-pass circuit 608 function tocode the first tive characters and 4the last three characters of thetest message on distributor 601 in the conventional manner and, inaddition, code the intermediate characters on distributor 601 inaccordance with key coder 609. Furthermore, although there are normally76 characters in the intermediate sequence, program circuit 608 incooperation with by-pass switch 603 eliminates four of the characterswhereby the intermediate sequence comprises 72 characters.

Therefore, when a page printer is being tested, the rst tive and lastthree characters of the test message are arranged to providenonprinting-nonspacing functions. Accordingly, the intermediate 72characters provided may all be printing characters and can beaccommodated on one 72 space page printer line.

Program circuit 608 is also provided with a test key, not shown in Fig.6 but hereinafter disclosed and shown in Fig. 3 relative to the detaileddescription of the circuit as key S-CIT. Key 3-CIT is furnished toprovide an arrangement whereby a continuous test message comprising theprinting characters established by key coder 609 may be produced. Theoperation of key 3-CIT permanently activates program circuit 608 wherebygate 605 is disabled and key coder 609 is operated. Thus, a continuoustest message of characters provided by key coder 609 is obtained. Sinceprogram circuit 608 is activated, the two steps of counter 602 duringthe twelfth and thirteenth cycles are by-passed as previously described.Accordingly, the operation of test key 3-CIT provides a test messagecomprising 80 printing characters.

Referring now to Figs. 1 through 4, when test signals are not requiredand the circuit is disabled, the starting relay 3-ST of Fig. 3 isreleased, the negative battery of Fig. 2 is removed from the windings ofthe A, B, and C relays by the open make contact of released relay 3-STand the distributor of Fig. 4 is blocked and prevented from rotating bylever 5-04. Thus, relays A1 through A6, B1 through B14 and C1 throughC14 are released and the starting key S-SIGS make Contact of Fig. 3 isopen.

When test signals are required, the 3-SIGS key is depressed and its makecontact in conductor 303 closes to apply operating ground to the windingof starting relay 3-ST. Relay 35T, upon operating, closes its associatedmake contact in Fig. 2 to apply negative battery over conductors 201 and202 to the windings of counting relays A1 to A6 and B1 to B14 and coderelays C1 to C14. In addition the energized magnet armature of relay3-ST, shown in representation in Fig. 4, frees distributor S-01, whichis normally driven by motor 5-07 through a friction clutch, by removinglatching lever 5-04 from engagement with cam 5-02 on the distributorshaft and accordingly the distributor will continue to rotate untilrelay 3-ST is later released.

The pulsing ground output of distributor 5-01 appearing on lead P6 maybe applied over transmission conductor 5-05 and through selector magnet5-06 to battery as shown in the dotted rectangle work circuit of Fig. 4or to any of the teletypewriter start-stop pulse utilization circuitswhich are well known in the art.

During the first rotation of the distributor, relays A1 to A6, B1 to B14`and C1 to C14 remain released; thus the coding applied to thedistributor is that in which no segmental element is grounded. This is ablank signal in one commonly used teletypewriter code.

As the distributor brush leaves segmental element 5, make contacts P,Fig. 5, close for a predetermined interval of time, such as 30milliseconds, and then reopen as the distributor continues to rotate.

in Fig. 1 the closure of make contact P applies ground to the operatingpath of relays A1 and B1. The operating path for relay A1 extends fromground, through make contact P, a break contact with the continuitycontacts of released relay A6, over conductor 101, through a closedbreak contact of the continuity contacts of each of released relays A1and A2, the break contact of relay CIA or, in shunt thereto, the breakcontact of the continuity contacts of relay B13 and the break contact ofrelay B12, the break contacts of the continuity contacts of relays A3,A4 and A5, over conductors 102 and 103, through a closed break contactof the continuity contacts of relay A1, through the winding of relay A1,over conductor 202 and through a closed make contact of relay 3-ST tonegative battery and relay A1 locks to ground by Way of the now closedmake contact of its continuity contact combination A1 and a closed breakcontact of -a continuity contact combination of relay A2. This groundpulse is also applied to the Winding of relay B1 over a parallel pathextending from conductor 103, through a break contact of the continuitycontacts of rel-ay B14 over conductor 204 comprising closed breakcontacts of the continuity contacts of released relays B1 through B13 ofwhich the break contacts of relays B4 through B12 are not shown,conductor 205, through a closed break contact of the continuity contactsof released relay B1, the winding of relay B1, over conductor 201, andthrough the closed break contact of operated relay 3-ST to negativebattery and relay B1 locks to ground by way of the make contact of itscontinuity contacts and the break contact of contacts B2. The operationof relay B1 effects operation of relay C1. This latter `operating pathis traced from negative battery through closed make contact 3-ST andbreak contact C1B, over conductor 200, the windings of relay C1,

closed make Contact of operated relay B1, and over conductor 203 andthrough resistor 210 to ground. Thus, the rst or starting cycle of thedistributor results in operation of counting relays A1 and B1 and codingrelay C1.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, sets of make contacts associated withoperated relay C1, each indicated by a broken line extending from a makecontact designated C1, are closed to apply a predetermined pattern ofgrounds to the 30-wire multiple bank W1 through W30 shown in Figs. 3 and4. As indicated, ground may be connected as desired to the make contactsof the coding relays C1 to C14 which, when operated, apply ground to theleads of vthe 30-wire multiple to correspond to any particular group ofcode combinations. The 30-wire multiple is divided into six groups offive leads, each connected to groups of normally opened make contactsassociated with relays A1 to A6. When a relay in the group A1 to A6operates, its make contacts in Figs. 3 and 4 apply the groundsestablished by the contacts of relay C1 to leads P1 through P5 andthereover to the segments on the face of distributor 5-01. Since relaysA1 and C1 yare operated, a path is therefore extended from leads P1through P5 to the above-mentioned terminais connectable to ground by wayof the make contacts of relay A1, Fig. 4, multiples W-26 through W-30,respectively, and the make contacts of relay C1. Thus, the character`coded on distributor 5-01 is determined by the grounded ones of theabove-mentioned terminals that extend to multiples W-26 through W-.30 byway of make contacts C1. Distributor 5-01 comprises an outer ring havingseven spaced conducting segments insulated from an inner continuousconducting ring. The seven segmets consist of a stop segment followed bya start segment 4and ve character forming segments. The rotatable armhas two interconnecting brushes which bridge these segments successivelyas the arm rotates to the inner continuous ring. The inner continuousring is connected through a working circuit to battery. As the outerbrush engages each segment of the outer ring a closed or open circuitcondition is produced, dependent upon whether or not the path throughthe relay contacts in Figs. 3 and 4 to ground is open as closed.

The first or startring grounding pulse was applied via make contact P ata time -when both relays A1 and A6 were released. However, in the normalcounting cycle when the recycling pulse is applied to relay A1 after theA relays have completed a count and bridged to relays B1 through B14,relay A6 as the preceding relay in the chain will be operated. Thispulse is applied by way of make contact P, make contact A6 and breakcontacts A and A3 to conductor 103 and then to the Winding of relay A1and to the B counting relays, as previously described.

Under the starting condition, operated relay A1 prepares a path forsubsequent operation of rel-ay A2 by closing the make contact of thecontinuity contacts of relay A1 in conductor 105 and transfers theoperating ground for relay A1 to a holding ground, through the closedmake contact of contacts A2 and the break contact of the continuitycontacts of released relay A2. As relay A6 is unoperated when the firstor starting pulse is applied, the break contact in conductor 101associated with relay A6 will remain closed and immediately uponoperation of relay A1 a path is complete from ground, throu-gh makecontact P, a closed break contact of the continuity contacts of relayA6, over conductor 101, through closed make contact of the continuitycontacts of operated relay A1, over conductor 105, through the breakcontact of contacts A2, the winding of relay A2, conductors 202 and aclosed make contact of relay 3ST to negative battery, thereby to operaterelay A2. The closure time of make contact P and the operating times ofrelays A1 and A2 are such that relay A2 operates immediately uponoperation of relay A1 in response to the initial starting groundingpulse and locks to ground by way of the make contact of its continuitycontacts and the break contact of contacts A3. Relay A2 upon operatingwill transfer the holding path for relay A1 from direct ground to groundapplied through closed make contact P, conductor 107 and the makecontact of contacts A2. Consequently, when make contact P opens toterminate the grounding pulse, relay A1 will release and relay A2 willremain operated. It is pointed out that whenever make contact P opens toterminate a grounding pulse, the A relay ring will return to the normalcounting condition under which one relay and only one relay remainsoperated.

As explained hereinbefore, the operating path for relay B1 in the B ringis in parallel with the operating path for relay A1. This path waspreviously traced over conductor 101 which is broken by the opening ofcontacts associated with operated relays A1 and A2. However, conductor104 comprising closed break contacts of released relays B1 through B14is in shunt with the break contacts of contacts A1 and A2 in conductor101 which open on operation of relays A1 and A2. Therefore, until relayB1 or others of the B ring operate, this supplemental shunting path willassure a bridging of the grounding pulse to the B ring. As countingprogresses after the starting interval, one of the relays B1 through B14will `always be operated. Therefore, the supplementary shunting path ofconductor 104 Will not interfere with the normal counting function as itwill be opened by one of the break contacts associated with relays ofthe B chain.

Near the end of the second cycle of rotation of the distributor, asecond closure of the make contact P will occu-r and a grounding pulsewill be applied through make contact P, a closed break contact of thecontinuity contacts of relay A6 over conductor 101 through closed breakcontact of contacts A1, make contact of the continuity contacts of relayA2, over conductor 109, through a closed break contact of the continuitycontacts of relay A3 released, through the winding of relay A3, overconductor 202 and a closed make contact of relay 3-ST to negativebattery. At the time this pulse is applied, relay A2, as previouslydescribed, is operated and locked over a holding path through a closedbreak contact of released rel-ay A3. Upon the operation of relay A3, theholding path for relay A2 is transferred via the make contact ofcontacts A3 to conductor 107 and 8 through make contact P to ground.Accordingly, relay A2 will release upon the opening of contacts P whichwill terminate the grounding pulse. The make contacts of relay A3 inFig. 4 apply the grounding pattern established in the multiple codingbank on multiples W-21 through W-25 by operated relay C1 to leads P1through P5 to code Ithe distributor face. Relay A3 in operatingfunctions similarly to relay A2 by transferring the holding path ofrelay A2 to the pulsing make contact P, preparing a circuit for theoperation of relay A4 on the next pulse, and transferring its operatingpath from the P make contact to ground through a closed make contact ofits continuity contacts and a break contact of the continuity contactsof released relay A4. The function of the remaining circuitry associatedwith relay A3 comprising contacts of relays OI, B12 and B13 will bediscussed in detail hereinafter.

The counting transfer operation as described with relation to relays A1through A3 is identical for all relays of the A chain and .all relays ofthe B chain, as the counting rings comprising relays A1 to A6 and B1 toB14 are identical basic single-count circuits each requiring one relayper count. During the normal counting operation only one relay in eachring is operated except during the initial starting operation discussedhereinbefore 'and dur-ing the transfer of the count from one stage -tothe next as discussed with relation to relays A2 and A3. With eachsuccessive pulse a new code combination will be applied through leadsP1, P2, P3, P4, and P5, of Figs. 3 and 4, to the distributor segments inaccordance with the grounding established by the make contacts of relayC1.

For the last count of the A relays, with relays A5 operated and A6released, the closure of make contact P will apply a grounding pulseover conductor 101, as previously described, and through the closed makecontact of the continuity contacts 'of operated relay A5, over conductor110, through the closed break contacts of the contacts of releasedrel-ay A6, through the winding of relay A6 and closed make contact ofrelay 3-ST to negative battery operating relay A6. Relay A6, uponoperating, transfers the holding path of operated relay A5 to conductor107 and accordingly relay A5 will not release until the P make contactopens. Make contacts of relays A3 Iand A5 are bridged across a breakcontact of relay A6, in conductor 101, and when relay A6 is operated andrelay A5 is operated simultaneously, the make contact of relay A5 willshunt the break cont-act of relay A6, to keep the operating path forrelay A6 intact `and to provide sufficient time for relay A6 to transferits operating path from conductor 101 and the P make contact `to aholding ground through the closed break contact of the continuitycontacts of released relay A1. If this bridging path comprising a makecont-act of either relays A3 or A5 were not provided, relay A6 would beself-interrupting. The make contact of relay A3 performs the samefunction as the make contact `of relay A5, just described, when relaysA4 and A5 are by-passed in the counting chain, as is describedhereinafter.

When relay A6 has operated and extended the coding on multiples W1through W5 to leads P1 through P5, the next rotation of the distributorwill apply a grounding pulse for recycling the A ring and for effectinga single stepping of the B ring, which is stepped only upon energizationof relay A1. This recycling ground# ing pulse will be applied throughthe closed make contact of the contacts of relay A6 operated and breakcontacts of relays A3 and A5 released to lead 103 and then via the breakcontact of contacts A1 and the winding of released relay A1 and throughlead 202 and the make contact of relay 3-ST to negative battery. Aparallel branch of this circuit extends through conductor 103, closedbreak contacts of the continuity contacts of released relay B114, overconductor 204, through closed make contact of the contacts of operatedrelay B1, make contact A6, to the winding of released relay B2 viaconductor 207 and the break contact of contacts B2. Therefore, relay B2is energized as well as relay A1. Relay B1, held operated by way of themake contact of its continuity contacts and the break contact ofcontacts B2 throughout the first cycle of the A ring, remains operatedby way of the make contact of contacts B2 and conductor 206 to conductor103 until make contact P opens, as the transfer of counts between relaysof the B ring is identical to that described with relation to the Aring, with the exception that a transfer in the B ring takes place onlyonce for each of the six transfers in the A ring.

Relay B2, upon operating, closes an operating path for relay C2 whichwill operate to close contacts in the multiple coding bank of Figs. 3and 4 to establish a new grounding code pattern on the contacts ofrelays A1 to A6. When make contact P opens at the end of the recyclingpulse, relay B1 will release to cause the corresponding release of relayC1. Another cycle of counting of relays A1 and A6 will now occur.However, the coding applied by their associated contacts in Figs. 3 and4 to leads P1 through P5 will be that established by the make contactsassociated with relay C2.

Similarly continuous recycling of the A ring will cause relays B3through B14 to be operated successively one for each cycle and relays C3through C14, respectively, to be operated simultaneously therewith. Inthis manner a pattern of grounds corresponding to six teletypewritercharacters is applied, character by character, to leads P1 through P5,as the A ring goes through six counts, and as ecah six-count cycle ofthe A ring is accompanied by a step in the B ring, and the operation ofanother C relay, with the release of the one previouely operated,fourteen groups of six teletypewriter characters each are presented todistributor 5-01 in fourteen cycles of the A counting ring. Thissequence of 84 teletypewriter characters will be repeated indefinitelyuntil relay 3-ST is released to block the distributor and removenegative battery from the winding of the A, B, and C relays.

Although the foregoing description relates to the programming ofteletypewriter characters, it is not to be interpreted as a limitation,as any type of digital code information could be programmed by thegrounding of the contacts on the multiple wire coding bank. However, ifthe invention is applied to telegraph testing, not more than 72characters which require lateral movement of the page teletypewritercarriage should be used in order to prevent an accumulation ofcharacters at the end of a line of page teletypewriter printing.Consequently, the test sentence must contain twelve coded combinationswhich control the teletypewriter to perform what are termed functions,such as carriage return, line-feed, letters(shift) or figures(shift)unless by-pass circuitry explained hereinafter is used to reduce thetotal count to less than 84. These particular functional combinations donot cause the teletypewriter to move laterally from left to right, as doprinting and spacing combinations.

A reduction of the total count to less than 84 characters may beaccomplished by the utilization of a bypass circuit in ring A which willeffect the skipping of certain steps in that ring. Referring to Fig. l,and assuming that relays CI, CIA, and CIB are operated, the operation ofrelay B12 or B13 in the cycle of the B ring will transfer the holdingcircuit of relay A3 which normally extends from ground through closedbreak contact of the continuity contacts of released relay A4, breakcontact CI and make contact of the contacts of relay A3 to a circuitwhich may be traced from ground through a closed break Contact of thecontacts of released relay A6, over conductor 106 and through closedmake contacts of relay CI and B12 or B13, and closed make contacts ofoperated relay A3, by opening the normal holding path at the breakcontacts of operated relay B12 or B13 in conductor 108 and the breakcontact of operated relay CI. In addition, the path to ground overconductor 101, which would normally operate relay A4 after operation ofrelay A3, is open at the break contacts of operated relays CIA, B12 orB13 and is diverted through a closed make contact of operated relay B13or B12, through a closed make contact of operated relay CIB and overconductor and break contact of contacts A6 to the windingl of relay A6.Therefore relay A6 is energized by the grounding pulse normally appliedto relay A4 and the counts associated with relays A4 and A5 areeliminated. Consequently under these conditions only four pulsedoperations of make contact P are required to complete a count cycle inthe A ring and as the elimination of two counts is accomplished at twoparticular steps of the B chain associated with relays B12 and B13, thetotal count is reduced from 84 to 80. However, when relays CI, CIA andCIB are released7 a continuous program of 84 counts is resumed.

With reference to Figs. 3 and 4, an alternate type of coding may beapplied through the coding matrix to leads PI through P5. Ground may beapplied to these leads independent of the make contacts of relays C1through relay C14 by means of make contacts associated with two sets ofkeys, each set having tive make contacts, one of which is identified asthe 1ST CHAR 1 to 1ST CHAR 5 (first character one to first characterfive) key in Fig. 3, and the other of which is identified as the 2NDCHAR 1 to 2ND CHAR 5 (second character one to second character five) keyin Fig. 4. For instance, in Fig. 4 the second character set of keys maybe depressed selectively to allow their associated contacts to apply apattern of grounds to the leads P1 through PS by way of make contactsA1, A3 or A5 and representative of a particular permutation codecharacter for testing purposes. Similarly the set of keys associatedwith the first character bank of Fig. 3 may be depressed in apermutation code combination for application to leads P1 through P5 viamake contacts A2, A4 or A6. Normally open make contacts of relay CIB areinterposed between ground and the contacts of the character key sets 1and 2 and therefore relay CIB must be operated before the charactercoding can be applied to the face of distributor 5-0'1 over leads P1through P5.

The circuit is conditioned to repeat a two-character code sequence byoperation of key 3-CIP or key 3-CI'I` in Fig. 3. When key 3-CIP isdepressed its make cotact in conductor 301 closes to prepare anoperating path for relays CI, CIA, and CIB. This operating path extendsfrom negative battery through the windings of these relays in parallelthrough a closed make contact of operated key 3-CIP, a closed breakcontact of the continuity contacts of unoperated relay CIA, a closedlbreak contact of released relay B14 and a closed make contact ofoperated relay A6, and over conductor 301 to ground. Thus, after thedepression of key 3-CIP an operating path for relays CI, CIA, and CIBwill be completed upon the first coincidence of the operated conditionof relay A6 and the released condition of relay B14. How ever, when key3-CIT is depressed the closure of its associated contact completes apath from ground through the closed make contact of the starting key3-SIGS, over conductor 303, through the closed make contact of key 3-CITand through the winding of relays CI, CIA, and CIB in parallel tonegative battery, thereby operating these latter relays. Thus, ondepression of key 3-CIT, relays CI, CIA, and CIB are operatedimmediately whereas if key 3-CIP is depressed these relays areconditioned to operate upon the first coincidence of the conditionsdescribed in the foregoing.

The functions of operated relays CI, CIA, and CIB will now be described.

Referring to Fig. 1, the operation of relay CI closes its associatedmake contact in conductor 106, thereby partially preparing counting ringA for by-passing steps 4 and 5, as previously described, whenever relayB12 or B13 is operated, by transferring the holding path for relay A3from ground through the break closed Contact of released relay A4 toground through the break contact of relay A6, over a path extending fromclosed make contact of operated relay A3, through closed make contact ofoperated relay B12 or B13, make closed contact of operated relay CI,over conductor 106 and through closed break contact of released relayA6. The operation of relay CI also removes the shunt across the breakcontacts on relays B12 and B13 in conductor 108 to open the normalholding path for relay A3. The operation of relay CIA opens its breakcontact in the shunting path across break contacts of relays B12 and B13in conductor 101, thereby preparing ring A for by-passing counts 4 and 5Whenever relay B12 or B13 is operated. The removal of this shunt permitsthe operation of relay B12 or B13 to open the circuit of conductor 101and to transfer the grounding pulse circuit from the operating paths ofrelays A4 and A5 to the operating path of relay A6 so that a groundingpulse incoming over conductor 101 will be coupled through closed makecontacts of either relay B12 r B13 and make contacts CIB to conductor110 and the operating winding of relay A6 as previously described.

Referring to Fig. 2, the break contact associated with operated relayCIB is opened, removing the negative battery applied over conductor 208to the coding relays C1 to C14, inclusive. Therefore, as counting ringsA and B go through their cycles, the operations of the B relays will notenergize their associated coding C relays and accordingly test sentencecoding will not be applied by the make contacts of the C relays to leadsP1 through P5.

With reference to Figs. 3 and 4, the operation of relay CIB appliesground to the contacts associated with the first and second characterkeys. In Fig. 3, make contacts associated with operated relay CI closeto apply the coding leads associated with make contacts of relays A2, A4and A6 to the leads associated with contacts of the first set ofcharacter keys, to permit the pattern of ground established by thesekeys to be applied to leads P1 through P5 when the make contactsassociated with relays A2, A4 or A6 close during the counting cycle ofthe A relay chain. In Fig. 4 the operation of relay CIA closes itsassociated make contacts to connect the leads associated with thecontacts of the second set of character keys to the leads associatedwith make contacts of counting relays A1, A3, and A5. Accordingly, asrelays A1, A3, and A5 close their make contacts during the normalcounting cycle of the A chain, the coding established by the second setof character keys will be applied to leads P1 through P5 and thence tothe face of distributor 5-01. Consequently with relays CI, CIA, and CIBoperated, the coding established by the operation of keys in the secondcharacter group is applied to contacts of relays All, A3, and A5 and thecoding established by operations of keys in the first character group isapplied to contacts of relays A2, A4, and A6. As the multiple codingrelays C1 to C14 are prevented from operating, the test sentence codingis not applied and the coding applied to the distributor 5-01 over leadsP1 through P5 will alternate between the characters established at thefirst and second sets of character keys.

With key 3-CIT depressed lthis repetition of twocharacter sequences willcontinue indetinitely until the 3-SIGS key is released. However, if thealternate key S-CIP is depressed, relays CI, CIA, and `Cll are notenergized until that point in the counting cycle at which thecoincidence of the condi-tions of relay A6 operated and relay B14released occurs. When this happens, operated relay CIA transfers thegrounding path for relays CI, CIA, .and CIB from conductor 301 to aholding ground circuit extending over make contact CIA, conductor 302,through closed break contacts of either relay A4 released or B14released and through Ithe closed make contact of depressed start key3-SIGS. This locking path for relays CI, CIA, and CIB extending overconductor 302. is opened when relays A4 and B14 are simultaneouslyoperated. When this occurs relays CI, CIA, and CIB release to restorethe circuit to the test sentence condition and the last three charactersof the test sentence hereinbefore suggested to be of a nonspacingnature, such as letters, are transmitted. Relays CI, CIA, and CIB willnot be reo-perated by ground over conductor 301 until the coincidence ofthe conditions of relay B14 released and relay A6 operated occurs oruntil the last three yand the following first live characters of thetest sentence have been distributed corresponding to the number of stepsbetween the coincidental operation of relays B14 and A4 and thecoincidental operation of relays B1 and A6.

Key 3-CIT, which permits unlimited repetitive sequences of thetwo-character codes, is utilized when the number of characters receivedby the utilization equipment is inconsequential such as in the case of ateletypewriter tape reperforator receiver. However, key 3-CIP isutilized when a page printing teletypewriter receiver having alimitation of a 72-space line of copy is connected to the output ofdistributor 5-0'1. It is to comply with this limitation of page printingteletypewriters that two counts on the A cycle are eliminated during theintervals that relays B12 and B13 are operated, as previously described,as the number of counts occurring between the initiation of the twocharacter code sequence and the termination thereof by a transfer tosentence coding is 76 which exceeds the 72-space line limitation of apage printing teletypewriter.

Since, as hereinbefore described, the iirst tive and the last threecharacters of the test sentence coding are intermixed with therepetitive sequence of 72 characters when key 3-CIP is utilized, theseeight characters of the test sentence must be nonspacing functions. Inthe preferred embodiment, the last three characters of the test sentencecoding are 1etters(shift) and the first iive characters of the testsentence coding are 1etters(shift), carriagereturn, carriage-return,line-feed, and letters Consequently each line of page copy begins at theleft margin of the page and is separated by one line from the precedingsequence.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been disclosedherein and described in the foregoing Specification, it will beunderstood that the invention is not limited to such specific embodimentbut is capable of modification and rearrangement without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, within the scope of the appending claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a coding system, a pulse source, a plurality of series of relaysoperable by pulses from said source, means for transferring successivepulses to successive relays throughout each of said series, meansoperatively interconnecting the operating path of a particular one ofthe relays of one series to the operating circuit of a succeeding seriesto cause the pulsing of said succeeding series simultaneously with thepulsing of said particular relay in said one series, and meanscontrollable by relays of said succeeding series for transferringsuccessive pulses applied to said one series to nonsuccessive relays ofsaid one series.

2. In a coding system, a pulse source, a first and second series ofrelays operable by pulses from said source, means forv transferringsuccessive pulses to successive relays throughout each of said series,means operatively interconnecting the operating path of a particular oneof the relays of said first series to the operating circuitV of saidsecond series to cause the pulsing of said second Vseries simultaneouslywith the pulsing of said particular relay in said rst series, an outputcircuit, a plurality of coding instrumentalities each selected by one ofthe relays of said second series for operable connection to said outputcircuit in accordance with the successive pulsing of relays in said rstseries, other coding instrumentalities for operable connection to saidoutput circuit in accordance with the successive pulsing of relays insaid rst series, and means operatively associated with said first andsecond relay series for controlling the connection of saidinstrumentalities to said output circuit during the successive pulsingof said first series.

3. In a code programming system, a pulse source, a rst and second seriesof relays, means for transferring successive pulses to successive relaysthroughout each of said series, means operably connecting said firstrelay series to said pulse source to receive individual pulses from saidpulse source and adapted to cause repetitions cycle of said first relayseries, means interconnecting the operating path of a particular one ofthe relays of said first relay series and the operating circuit of saidsecond relay series to cause the pulsing of said second relay seriessimultaneously with the pulsing of said particular one relay, andby-pass means operably associated with said first series of relays andcontrollable by said second series of relays for transferring successivepulses to non-successive relays in said first series.

4. A system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said by-pass means areonly effective at particular ones of the Successive steps of said secondseries and said pulse source comprises means controllable by adistributor adapted to transmit telegraph signals for generating a pulseonce in each cycle of said distributor.

5. In a code programming system, a p-ulse source, a first and secondseries of relays, means for transferring successive pulses to successiverelays throughout the series, means operably connecting said first relayseries to said pulse source to receive individual pulses from said pulsesource, means operatively interconnecting the operating path of thefirst relay of said first relay series With the operating circuit ofsaid second relay series to enable a pulsing energization of said firstrelay of the first series at the initiation of a cycle thereof and toalso cause energization of a relay in said second series, by-pass meansoperatively associated with the operating paths of certain relays of thefirst series and certain of the relays of the second series to causeskipping of said certain relays of said first series during cycles whensaid certain relays of said second series are energized, an outputcircuit, a signal coding relay individual to and operable by each of therelays of said second series for coding a plurality of codecombinations, and means including the relays of said first series forapplying to said output circuit in succession the code combinationscoded by an operated one of said coding relays.

6. A code generator comprising a pulse source, a first and second relaycounting ring circuit operably responsive to pulses from said source,means responsive to the operation of each of said relays in said firstring for extending the output of said pulse source to the nextsuccessive one of said relays, means effective when a specific one ofsaid relays in said first ring is operated for extending the output ofsaid pulse source to said second ring, means effective when a selectedone of said relays in said first ring and a selected one of said relaysin said second ring are simultaneously operated for transferring theoutput of said pulse source from said next successive relay in saidfirst ring to a subsequent one of said relays in said first ring, a setof output leads, a set of coding leads ,associated with each of saidrelays in said first ring, normally disabled coding means for codingsaid sets of coding leads with signals, other coding means responsive tothe operation of each of said relays in said second ring for coding saidsets of coding leads with signals, means responsive to the operation ofeach of said relays in said first ring for extending said set of outputleads to said associated one of said sets of coding leads, and switchingmeans controlled by predetermined relays in said first and second ringsfor enabling said coding means and disabling said other coding means.

7. A code generator comprising a code distributor, a first and secondrelay counting ring circuit operably responsive to pulses, a pulsesource controlled by said distributor for applying pulses to said firstring, means responsive to the operation of each of said relays in saidfirst ring for extending the output of said pulse source to the nextsuccessive one of said relays, means effective When a specific one ofsaid relays in said first ring is operated for extending the output ofsaid pulse source -to said second ring, means effective when a selectedone of said relays in said first ring and a selected one of said relaysin said second ring are simultaneously operated for transferring theoutput of said pulse source from said next successive relay in saidfirst ring to a subsequent one of said relays in said first ring, a setof coding leads associated with each of said relays in said first ring,coding means responsive to the operation of each of said relays in saidsecond ring for coding said sets of coding leads with signals, and meansresponsive to the operation of each of said relays in said first ringfor extending said associated one of said set of coding leads to saiddistributor.

8. A code generator comprising a first and second relay counting ringcircuit operably responsive to pulses, a pulse source for applyingpulses to said first ring, means effective when a specific one of saidrelays in said first ring is operated for extending the output of saidpulse source to said second ring, a set of output leads, a set of codingleads associated with each of said relays in said first ring, normallydisabled coding means for coding said sets of coding leads with signals,other coding means responsive to the operation of each of said relays insaid second ring for coding said sets of coding leads with signals,means responsive to the operation of each of said relays in said firstring for extending said set of output leads to said associated one ofsaid sets of coding leads, and switching means controlled bypredetermined relays in said first and second rings for enabling saidcoding means and disabling said other coding means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,986,768 Dirkes et al. Jan. 1, 1935 2,082,550 Powell June 1, 19372,357,297 Wack et al. Sept. 5, 1944 2,504,999 McWhirter et al. Apr. 25,1950

